ANCHORAGE, ALASKA —West Susitna business leaders, Chickaloon Village Traditional Council, and Defend the West Su slammed the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority and the Army Corps of Engineers’ recently announced plan to speed through permitting for AIDEA’s portion of the more than 100+ mile, state-funded West Susitna Industrial Access Road. Rushing through permitting for the road will cut Alaskans out of decisions around our public lands, waste tens of millions of Alaskan and U.S. federal taxpayer dollars, if not more, and could forever negatively impact outdoor-based economies, salmon habitat, and hunting and fishing opportunities in the West Susitna region — all for a false “emergency” to get to non-Alaskan and foreign-owned gold mining claims. The comment period for the road is only three weeks, ending Oct. 13.

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA—Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy today announced an attempt to rebrand the West Susitna Industrial Access Road, which would slice through wild public lands and salmon streams to create a mining district largely operated by foreign mining companies. While the Administration claims this “new” road is a different project, this announcement is a blatant attempt to rebrand the same money-losing handout, at the expense of Alaskans and of fish and game, that the Governor and his Administration have pursued for years.

ANCHORAGE— West Susitna guides, residents and business owners today condemned the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority’s (AIDEA) application for a Clean Water Act dredge and fill (Section 404) permit for the proposed West Susitna Access Road. Additionally, wild salmon advocates, local residents and local business owners urged Alaska’s elected officials to support a financially responsible path that keeps the West Susitna wild — and its businesses healthy.